The music's pumping and people have settled in with their bottles of wine. There is a nice breeze blowing and the summer heat wave has ...

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Friday, February 4, 2011

Farm Family of the Year!

Congratulations to the Layton family on their induction into Maryland's Agriculture Hall of Fame this month! Governor O'Malley and other agricultural and legislative leaders joined to induct the Kohl Family of Kent County and Joseph Layton, Jr of Dorchester County into the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame. These families became the 40th and 41st recipients of the prestigious recognition during the annual “Taste of Maryland” agriculture event at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie on February 3, 2011. More coverage of the event can be read by clicking here.

Sudeep Mathew, University of Maryland Extension agent of Dorchester County sums it up well: "The Laytons have all the ingredients for a successful agriculture operation. They are knowledgeable, methodical, goal-oriented and adaptive to change. When his son decided to return to the farm, Joe and his family diversified their grain operation into growing grapes and opening a winery. The family members are active leaders in their community and have consistently implemented good conservation practices on their farm.”

Joe, William and the whole family have worked hard for many years to keep farming as the family business. The newest addition- Layton's Chance!- is just the latest of many adaptations necessary to keep Lazy Day Farms viable. The Laytons have put unmeasurable time, energy and love into making agriculture work in modern times and it's wonderful that the state has recognized them for this.

As an employee of the Laytons for the past year and a half, I want to say that I'm extremely proud to be working for this family and I wish them continued success!

Click here to view a beautiful video with footage of the farm and vineyard, as Joe explains his history of farming.